National Emerald club

[living20057]

I booked from National yesterday and since I signed up for the Emerald club, the agent said I can select any car in the Emerald aisles. I purchased a full size car on Priceline and I select a standard SUV. I checked the National website and it said long as you pay for a mid size you can select any size car. Has anyone had experience booking the mid size even though your plan was to get a larger size? I would hate to need a bigger size car and then since I didn't reserve it I'm stuck.

 

[mmouse50]

Some are going to disagree with me but I would book 2 reservations - 1 for a midsize and one for the size you need - that way if you can find a car on the emerald aisle the size you need for the price of a midsize you save yourself money.

But I would look at the prices of both cars, with whatever discount I could find and if the price difference isn't the far apart I would just stay with the size you need.

 

[living20057]

If you don't cancel the second reservation prior to the time, will I get charged?

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I booked from National yesterday and since I signed up for the Emerald club, the agent said I can select any car in the Emerald aisles. I purchased a full size car on Priceline and I select a standard SUV. I checked the National website and it said long as you pay for a mid size you can select any size car. Has anyone had experience booking the mid size even though your plan was to get a larger size? I would hate to need a bigger size car and then since I didn't reserve it I'm stuck.

TIME OUT!

You booked via Priceline? Did you do the "name your own price" deal? If so, NO you can't do anything and the EA won't help. You will have to go to the counter and deal with them. And no matter what you booked on priceline go read the deal. They do have some "non refundable' prepay deals, so canceling that won't help at all.

If you booked directly with National you have two options

1. Book the car you want and select from the aisle so marked (AKA as "full size" etc...
2. Book a midsize and select any car you want on the Emerald Aisle. You cannot just hike over to the SUV aisle and help yourself. You are only guranteed a midsize. There generally are full sizes, but there may not be.

The "two reservation" system is only guaranteed to get you in a big mess at check out as they try to charge you for the higher priced car.

 

[gmeh1]

I booked from National yesterday and since I signed up for the Emerald club, the agent said I can select any car in the Emerald aisles. I purchased a full size car on Priceline and I select a standard SUV. I checked the National website and it said long as you pay for a mid size you can select any size car. Has anyone had experience booking the mid size even though your plan was to get a larger size? I would hate to need a bigger size car and then since I didn't reserve it I'm stuck.

You can select any car on the Emerald Aisle. You cannot select any car in the garage.
If you booked a car via Priceline, you are not eligible to use the Emerald Aisle, you will go to the appropriate row and select from there. IE: full size car, go to the full size area, Standard SUV, go to the Standard SUV row.
Book the size you need, don't bank on getting something larger than a mid size from the Emerald Aisle, that is all you are guaranteed. Often they have standard and full size cars on the aisle, but, if you cannot take the chance/gamble, don't.
Two reservations= two reservation numbers. Often you will be charged for the more expensive one, so, keep those reservation numbers with you, the exit booth agents are not mind readers.

 

[gmeh1]

TIME OUT!

You booked via Priceline? Did you do the "name your own price" deal? If so, NO you can't do anything and the EA won't help. You will have to go to the counter and deal with them. And no matter what you booked on priceline go read the deal. They do have some "non refundable' prepay deals, so canceling that won't help at all.

If you booked directly with National you have two options

1. Book the car you want and select from the aisle so marked (AKA as "full size" etc...
2. Book a midsize and select any car you want on the Emerald Aisle. You cannot just hike over to the SUV aisle and help yourself. You are only guranteed a midsize. There generally are full sizes, but there may not be.

The "two reservation" system is only guaranteed to get you in a big mess at check out as they try to charge you for the higher priced car.

It is not a big mess IF you have your reservation numbers with you. It can be a big mess if you assume the agent is a mind reader. The screen only gives the reservation numbers, it does not tell the agent if it is an EA ressie or a Select reservation until she/he selects that particular reservation.
Ways to avoid this "big mess". Don't make more than one reservation or if you have more than one print out your confirmations (good idea even if you only have one ressie) and bring them with you and hand the agent the appropriate one, check the print out you get from the agent with your confirmation, if it does not match, address it with the agent immediately.
They don't try to charge you the higher price, that is misleading. You are assuming they are mind readers and adopting the mind set of the most annoying EA customers there are. They are there to make your rental experience as pleasant as possible and it is not too much to ask, IMHO, to be prepared, IE: license, ressie number and credit card. A little consideration goes a long way on both sides.

 

[JessM]

If you are coming into MCO there are normally lots of full size suvs and mini vans in the Emerald Aisle. I would book a mid size through National and hope for a "normal" day in the Emerald Aisle. If there isn't a car big enough just go back to the counter and upgrade. The savings would be worth the "risk" to me, but you have to decide if its worth it to you.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It is not a big mess IF you have your reservation numbers with you. It can be a big mess if you assume the agent is a mind reader. The screen only gives the reservation numbers, it does not tell the agent if it is an EA ressie or a Select reservation until she/he selects that particular reservation.
Ways to avoid this "big mess". Don't make more than one reservation or if you have more than one print out your confirmations (good idea even if you only have one ressie) and bring them with you and hand the agent the appropriate one, check the print out you get from the agent with your confirmation, if it does not match, address it with the agent immediately.
They don't try to charge you the higher price, that is misleading. You are assuming they are mind readers and adopting the mind set of the most annoying EA customers there are. They are there to make your rental experience as pleasant as possible and it is not too much to ask, IMHO, to be prepared, IE: license, ressie number and credit card. A little consideration goes a long way on both sides.

This would explain why I gave the agent the print out of my ONLY reservation for a car at $39 a day and he changed it to $200 a day??? If they can screw that up with only ONE reservation then I am not trusting them very far. (luckily I looked down at the contract as I drove off and just circled back to find a manager who was amazed at what had been done, he even admitted "I have no idea how he even found this rate" ) And I had not been rude, heck I hadn't really even talked to the guy The only reason I even gave him the reservation print out was he claimed he couldn't find my EA reservation. LOL!

If you are coming into MCO there are normally lots of full size suvs and mini vans in the Emerald Aisle. I would book a mid size through National and hope for a "normal" day in the Emerald Aisle. If there isn't a car big enough just go back to the counter and upgrade. The savings would be worth the "risk" to me, but you have to decide if its worth it to you.

Once again this is RISKY. Go read the thread on here on cars. Lots of posts don't show "full size SUVs and mini vans" My last few visits have had none of these. I have seen some mid size SUVs but...

However, OP has not yet addressed the priceline statement in the original post. If she has a non refundable priceline reservation there is NO need to make a second reservation or even to discuss what is on the asile.

 

[gmeh1]

If you are coming into MCO there are normally lots of full size suvs and mini vans in the Emerald Aisle. I would book a mid size through National and hope for a "normal" day in the Emerald Aisle. If there isn't a car big enough just go back to the counter and upgrade. The savings would be worth the "risk" to me, but you have to decide if its worth it to you.

It is rare to see full size SUVs and mini vans on the EA. It is usually mid size and full size. I worked there and I can tell you the only times that something other than mid size, standard size and full size are on the EA is when it is ultra busy and they run out of the three previously mentioned. That is why I always tell people to book what they need.

 

[gmeh1]

This would explain why I gave the agent the print out of my ONLY reservation for a car at $39 a day and he changed it to $200 a day??? If they can screw that up with only ONE reservation then I am not trusting them very far. (luckily I looked down at the contract as I drove off and just circled back to find a manager who was amazed at what had been done, he even admitted "I have no idea how he even found this rate" ) And I had not been rude, heck I hadn't really even talked to the guy The only reason I even gave him the reservation print out was he claimed he couldn't find my EA reservation. LOL!



Once again this is RISKY. Go read the thread on here on cars. Lots of posts don't show "full size SUVs and mini vans" My last few visits have had none of these. I have seen some mid size SUVs but...

However, OP has not yet addressed the priceline statement in the original post. If she has a non refundable priceline reservation there is NO need to make a second reservation or even to discuss what is on the asile.

It is completely possible when he scanned the car id that it booked at the more expensive rate and he was not informed that the car was on the EA. There is a "tell" in the vehicle as to what is on the aisle and either that was missing or he was not paying attention. Mistakes happen, we don't like them for any reason, but, that is the cost of being human.

 

[DebbieB]

If you are coming into MCO there are normally lots of full size suvs and mini vans in the Emerald Aisle. I would book a mid size through National and hope for a "normal" day in the Emerald Aisle. If there isn't a car big enough just go back to the counter and upgrade. The savings would be worth the "risk" to me, but you have to decide if its worth it to you.

I've used Emerald Aisle many times and most times there are only full sizes. There may be 1 or 2 SUVS or Mini-Vans occasionally, I've never seen "lots".

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I purchased a full size car on Priceline and I select a standard SUV.

Is your Priceline reservation a nonrefundable, name-your-own-price reservation? If so, all the advice in this thread about National's Emerald Aisle does not apply.

I don't understand if your Priceline reservation is for a full size car or a standard SUV. Those are two different car classes.

Take a look at your confirmation email. It will tell you what section to go to for your car. You will go to the Emerald Aisle only if that's what your confirmation is for. The Emerald Aisle at MCO tends to have a bunch of Chevrolet Impalas and similar cars. Sometimes there's a real gem. But that's rare. Even on the Executive Aisle (the special version of Emerald Aisle for frequent National renters who have earned Executive status), the cars tend to be Impalas, although often the snazzier LTZ model.

 

[living20057]

All very helpful information. My reservation was paid through Priceline for a full size. Until the agent told me to pick whatever I wanted, I never knew it was an option. I picked the car up at Reagan airport. There were the same amount of full size and standard SUVs on the lot.

I was just wondering for the future, if booking a mid size and hoping to get something better when I arrive is a good option. I will stick with booking the actual size car that I need, and if I luck up with something better when I arrive then it will be a surprise.

Alot of times I look at the individual car versus the size to determine my needs, ie if we have alot of bags or if it's a long distance. I have found the Hydunai Sonata to great on gas and comfortable to ride in. I would prefer that car over the SUV.

 

[gmeh1]

All very helpful information. My reservation was paid through Priceline for a full size. Until the agent told me to pick whatever I wanted, I never knew it was an option. I picked the car up at Reagan airport. There were the same amount of full size and standard SUVs on the lot.

I was just wondering for the future, if booking a mid size and hoping to get something better when I arrive is a good option. I will stick with booking the actual size car that I need, and if I luck up with something better when I arrive then it will be a surprise.

Alot of times I look at the individual car versus the size to determine my needs, ie if we have alot of bags or if it's a long distance. I have found the Hydunai Sonata to great on gas and comfortable to ride in. I would prefer that car over the SUV.

What the agent should have said is: Pick whatever you want from the full size row.
In the future, if you book via National's EC log in and you select mid size, you will go the the Emerald aisle and select from there. If you select anything BUT mid size, you are locked into that size and cannot select anything you want from the garage. you need to review the program policies found on the National Emerald Club page. I think you are very confused with the program. https://www.nationalcar.com/index.do?action=emcIndex.do&type=uszl-withnav-header
The sonata is one of my favorites, it is a nice vehicle.